Shaft or tube press



June 4, 1940. I u. A. INMAN SHAFT OR TUBE PRESS Filed Oct. 4, 1937 R 0 w m 5 NM F? W1 w NH WM? I H 5 x A 0 m j w W m .I 7 0 .0 1/ 3 .01 -1 K 1; .M 1 A Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHAFT R TUBE PRESS Ulysses A. Inman, Long Beach, Calif. Application October 4, 1937, Serial N0. 167,244

, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a shaft or tube press particularly adaptable for the straightening of tubes or shafts of an automobile.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efiective press of the character stated, including a means for holding the shaft or tube either downwardly, or upwardly, depending on the direction of the pressure which is applied to the tube, or shaft, in straightening l0 the same.

Another object is to provide a novel press of I Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View of one of the chucks, showing the centering 25 cone mounted thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my press includes a bed I, which is supported on legs 2, 3. The leg 2 extends above the bed' I, and an adjustable chuck 4 is mounted adjacent the 30 upper end of this leg.

A tail block 5 is adjustably mounted on the bed I so that the press can accommodate a shaft or tube of different lengths. ries a centering pin 6, and the shaft I, which is 35 being worked upon, is held between the chuck l and the pint. The'bed I comprises. a pair of spaced structural members 8, 9, which carries the holding members as well as the straightening jack, as will be further described.

A pair of holding members II! are adjustably mounted on the bed I and since both of these holding members are alike, only one will be described in detail. .A post II is provided with a flange I2, which 45 rests on the bed I. A depending stem I3 extends between the structural members 8, 9, of the bed, and a clamping wedge or the like I4 is driven through the stem, and bears against the bottom of the bed, thereby holding the post securely in 50 position.

By removing the wedge M, the post II can be moved along the bed as desired. The upper portion of the post is threaded and receives a turnbuckle I5. A threaded bolt IB screws into the 55 upper end of the turnbuckle, and includes ahead The tail block 5 car- I! which bears against the work, if the holding member is pushing upwardly. If the holding member is pulling downwardly, a yoke I8 encircles the shaft or tube '5, and this yoke is afiixed to the head H by the pin I9. 6

A jack 2E1 rests on the bed I and is moved as desired in order to press against the work 'I to enable the operator to straighten certain parts of the work.

If a tube is to be worked upon, a cone 2I is 10 fitted over the pin 5, and the outer end of the chuck, thus enabling the tube to be accurately centered in the press. The cones are machined to fit over the pins'and can be removed when desired.

In operation, the work is set in the press and is aligned, either by means of the pins, or the cones, and thereafter, the holding members it are positioned on the press. By adjusting the turnbuckles I5, the work is either pulled downwardly, or pushed upwardly, and when the jack 219 is then operated, the load is not carried by the pins or the cones, but is entirely carried by the holding members.v

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A shaft or tube press comprising a bed, having a longitudinal slot therein, a pair of spaced centering means mounted above the bed, the work being adapted to be held between the centering means, a work engaging fixture comprising a stem extending through the slot in the bed, lock means on the stem whereby the fixture is held against longitudinal movement on the bed,

a turnbuckle on the fixture whereby the fixture may be elongated and a yoke on the upper end of the fixture adapted and arranged to partly encircle and engaging the top of the work, whereby the fixture may push upwardly or pull downwardly on the work.

2. A shaft or tube press comprising a bed, a 40 pair of spaced structural members forming said bed, centering means mounted above the bed, the work being adapted to be held betweenthe centering means, a pair of work engaging fixtures, each fixture including a stem, said stem extending between the structural members of the bed, lock means on the stem, whereby the fixture is held stationary on the bed, a turnbuckle on the fixture whereby the fixture may be elongated, a head on the upper end of the fixture engageable' with the bottom of the work, a yoke on the fixture engageable with the top of the work whereby the fixture may push upwardly or pull downwardly on the work.

ULYSSES A. INMAN. 

